In 1995, the Pennsylvania General Assembly gave the Attorney General the authority to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently has formal written reciprocity agreements with fourteen states that recognize a valid license to carry firearms issued by Pennsylvania. Conversely, Pennsylvania recognizes valid firearm carry licenses/permits from those states. In addition to the 14 formal agreements, other forms of reciprocity are applicable.

Note: It has come to the attention of the Office of Attorney General that there has been confusion over the applicability of Pennsylvania's reciprocal privileges with regard to the residency status of an individual who has been issued a valid license/permit. It is the position of the Office of Attorney General that recognition within Pennsylvania is based on the issuance to an individual of a valid license/permit by the reciprocal contracting state, and not on the license/permit holder's place of residence.

Categories of Firearms Reciprocity

Under Pennsylvania law, there are six categories of firearms reciprocity status.

Category 1: States that have entered into written reciprocity agreements with Pennsylvania. (Title 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6109(k))

The following states have entered into formal written reciprocity agreements with Pennsylvania under section 6109(k) of the Uniform Firearms Act. These agreements provide for reciprocal recognition of valid licenses/permits issued by both states. Recognition in Pennsylvania is based on the individual's issuance of a valid license/permit by the reciprocal contracting state, and not on the license/permit holder's place of residence.

A list of these states and links to their firearms laws is provided below, along with the text of the agreements:

Category 2: States that have statutory reciprocity under 6106(b)(15) of the Uniform Firearms Act.

The following states have been granted statutory reciprocity without a formal written agreement under 6106(b)(15), based on the determination of the Attorney General that the other state has granted reciprocity to Pennsylvania license holders, and that the other state's laws governing firearms are similar.

Colorado
Idaho
Indiana
Louisiana
Montana
North Dakota
Utah

Category 3: Unilateral reciprocity granted by another state for Pennsylvania license holders.

This category encompasses states which allow an individual issued a valid concealed firearm license from Pennsylvania to carry a firearm while in those respective states.

Category 4: Pennsylvanians may apply for a license/permit from another state ("Application states").

Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Washington

Category 5: State does not recognize or grant licenses/permits to individuals from another state, currently does not extend reciprocal privileges to Pennsylvania license holders, or has not indicated current status.

Vermont
**Vermont allows possession or carrying of a concealed firearm without a license/permit.

Please be aware that the information on this page is subject to change based on the most recent developments in the various states and territories. If you are aware of changes in any of the information above, please contact the Office of Attorney General so that our information may be revised appropriately. If you plan to travel to another state it is recommended that you contact the proper authority within that state in order to verify what, if any, additional requirements or restrictions apply under state or federal law.

CONTACT INFO FOR ALL STATES

The following information may assist you in contacting the appropriate agencies if you plan to travel to another state:

Connecticut
Leonard C. Boyle
Commissioner
Department of Public Safety
State of Connecticut
1111 Country Club Rd.
Middletown, CT 06457-9294
New Mexico
Stuart M. Bluestone
Chief Deputy Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General of New Mexico
P.O. Drawer 1508
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508

Delaware
Carl Danberg
Chief Deputy Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General of Delaware
Carvel State Office Building
820 N French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
New York
Debra L. W. Cohn
Deputy Attorney General for Policy
Office of the Attorney General of New York
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271

Maine
Laura Yustak Smith
Assistant Attorney General
Maine Office of Attorney General
6 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Vermont
John Treadwell
Assistant Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General of Vermont
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001

This email link is to reach site administrators for assistance, if you cannot access TFL via other means. If you are a TFL member and can access TFL, please do not use this link; instead, use the forums (like Questions, Suggestions, and Tech Support) or PM an appropriate mod or admin.

If you are experiencing difficulties posting in the Buy/Sell/Trade subforums of TFL, please read the "sticky" announcement threads at the top of the applicable subforum. If you still feel you are qualified to post in those subforums, please contact "Shane Tuttle" (the mod for that portion of TFL) via Private Message for assistance.

This email contact address is not an "Ask the Firearms Expert" service. Such emails will be ignored. If you have a firearm related question, please register and post it on the forums.